There is no favorable wind for a ship going nowhere. Many
people don’t know or understand who they are and live from day to day totally
dependent on people opinion of them. It makes it hard to not only build
networks but make decisions as each person you encounter will have a different
view. If you have 50 people in a room and asked each to write their opinion on
something, chances are, without hearing others opinion, there will be 50 different
opinions, Knowing who you are and what you stand for or want – your personal
vision is the first step to being a successful entrepreneur. It gives you
direction and a destination
...
It was a great party, lots of gifts for Mich and Tunu and the
grand-parents were more than elated. As usual Leila’s parents stood in for Elan
as hers had long past. Her sisters were pleasant to them and the conversation
was easy all evening - except for the little incidents with Meline. She
eventually blacked out and was taken to the hotel and everyone had lots of fun
after.
With all the excitement of meeting after so long, the
sisters stayed on late. However given Elan had so many guest and the her newly
acquired friends and family felt the need to get to know them, they hardly got
time to catch up. Eventually they decided to meet for brunch next day at the
hotel and spend the rest of the evening being good hosts.
The sisters hardly slept, the excitement of all the people
they met and some of the conversations they had just got them excited. Most of
the people were business people or artists. And creativity and entrepreneurship,
having been a major topics in their family since they were children, naturally
got the ladies excited. Despite sleeping late, next day they all were up by 11.00
and ready for a swim and brunch as agreed. Meline however, was still in bed,
nursing a hangover and unaware of the planned meeting.
Tekla, ‘Did you guys see those people at the party?!He! Elan
is living well and has the right company. I mean even her staff dress
reeeeeally well, and the food! The décor - out of this World!
Jenny, ‘I liked the house best. I suppose it is the culture
here to dress to the nines each time. Thank God we had the insight to use the
designer Al recommended, had we gone with Meline’s advice, ghai! we would have
been so embarrassed!’
Penrice, ‘She is living well, but did she really make the
money? Must be her husband, he is from a rich -’
Jenny, ‘You and your jealousy! Can’t you sometimes just
accept when she is doing well? You know the more I reflect on the past the more
I realize we drove her away because of all this jealousy and ganging up. If
there is anyone who tried to bring us together its Elan but we repaid her by rebuffing
her just because she was strict. Come to think, I really don’t know where that
came from because in reality she never gave us reason to think negatively -
though she was firm but we are all younger she was just being responsible.’
Penrice,’True but I suppose each of us has been rubbed one
way or the other by her miss perfect attitude. And you cause drama each time
you want things your way, she is not your mum you know’
Jenny, ‘well she is the eldest, so the mom now. Anyway, I have
been wrong but so have all of us. Didn’t realize how much she had put her life
on hold for us till she actually left the country and
decided on starting her own family. She never held back in anyway till then’
Tekla, always hating to reflect on the past because of the
skeletons in her closet decides to stop move on to other things. Luckily the
waiter brings their food earlier than they had expected thus making the
transition easy. She gets out of the pool.
Tekla, ‘Oh leave the past alone already! Let’s just enjoy
the Lagos.’ She opens the food and is surprised at the large portions. ‘Woooo!
These Nigerians eat heavily, no wonder ni wanono!’
The food, mainly chicken and meat, is quite a lot
considering what they are used to. The others join her and they soon start
eating. They are hungry and though it’s not yet time for Elan to arrive they
figure they don’t want this to get cold and she could join them as soon as she
comes instead of waiting for her order. The pepper soon gets too hot.
Jenny opens a pack of juice and pours it,’ Na pilipili We!
Lakini tamu kweli!’
Meline comes out, surprised that no one bothered to wake her
up and not having a clue how she got to the hotel. However her bossy and
arrogant attitude does not allow her to be sorry about the happenings last evening
though she is pretty much aware of the drama she caused ‘Hmmm! You are already
eating? Why didn’t you wake me up?’
They all turn and look at her then continue eating.
Jenny, ‘Hi cousin’
Tekla, ‘Hi Meline’
Jenny, ‘The way you were yesterday, we figured it would be
best to let you lie in. We were expecting to see you later - in about a week!’
The sisters laugh and hi5. The joke was more about what
someone said when she blacked out the evening before than mocking her. Meline
seats down and starts eating as they explain the joke to her
Meline, ‘Eish! This is too much pilipili my daughters cannot
-’
Penrice, interrupts looking at around sarcastically, ‘Where
are they? Oops they are not here and knowing them, they both love pepper.’
Meline thinks of something else to
complain about yet eating. ‘Well it’s too much meat and it’s not good for my
health’
Jenny calls the waiter, who has been lacking around after
seeing Meline join them. ‘We could order something else for you but it would
have to be vegetable, the meat dishes are expensive’
Meline, ‘No I want this’
Jenny, ‘OK we’ll add a portion plus vegetable with pepper on
the side?’
Meline, ‘No both chicken’
Jenny, ‘OK chicken with pepper the side?’
Meline, ‘It’s not the same as when it’s cooked in pepper’
Jenny, ‘mild or medium’
Meline, still wolfing the food down, ‘No just like this’
The sisters look at each other and smile
Jenny, ‘Keeping accounts for you guys is crazy. Just
remember to get doggy bags for whatever is left over because we are not wasting
any food’
Tekla at this laughing, ‘Hmmmm! Yes Ma ... Heeeyy! Elan!’
The others turn round to see Elan. They are all excited and
stand up to embrace. Meline sits down sneering and finally shakes hands with
Elan.
SEE YOU TOMORROW
